how to look older

Hi Sachin,

I'm a 20-year-old uni student and I love to have a good time and look good doing so. Fashion is a pretty important aspect of my life and I always make sure I look my best without overdoing it. The biggest problem I have is the fact that, although I'm two decades old, I look no older than a 16-year-old high school punk. Sometimes when I get dressed up for work meetings or to go out to a nice dinner with friends, my wardrobe just makes me look like a douche. Even though my clothes are meant for someone of my age, they don't always work for my baby-faced appearance. Any tips?

Gary T.

You're thinking: "Look older? Seriously, AskMen?" To prevent a dump of hate mail, I must remind the older members of our readership that some AskMen readers are (very) young and need pointers on the knowledge many older guys take for granted. Remember back when you were but a mere freshman, incapable of growing any facial hair, and you watched the seniors score the babes — remember how badly that sucked? Older gents like us owe it to younger guys to lessen the awkwardness of coming of age fashionably. If this isn't the kind of help you need, try digging deep back into your uni years and offer your own tips below.

Gary, the No. 1 tip I can offer is to get the proper fit. Take a look at your peers: Sure, their pants aren't hanging off their asses anymore, nor are they stupid enough to think Ed Hardy dragon-tattooed deep-V tees are cool, but they still haven't mastered fit and detail. Think about it: how many 20-year-olds have a tailor? Most guys your age recognise that, say, a suit is in order for work meetings; however, the recognition pretty much ends there. They'll rummage through their dads' closets and throw on whatever works — except it doesn't. The result is an oversize sack of (fill in the blank) fit for a night of fist-pumping à la Jersey Shore. Guys in their late teens and early 20s will invest more time on the latest iPhone app than on the fit of their suit. Surprised? Don't be. Knowing how to dress well comes with experience — thus, if mastered, is an effective way to look older.

Next, pay attention to details — for example, colour. Gary, are you still wearing primary colours like blue and green that make your mum want to squeeze the hell out of you? When was the last time you looked at something in aubergine? You don't need to know its name, but you do need to recognise that it's a lot more sophisticated-looking than black. Now find that colour in an equally sophisticated fabric like velvet. An aubergine velvet dinner jacket — tailored! — paired with black pants should help you look older.

online shopping

Hey Sachin,

What are the most reasonably priced online stores with the most style? Any suggestions would be great.

Tommy B.

Good question, Tommy. A plethora of online stores for men have emerged in the last few years. I'm a fan of ASOS and Topman for the price-style formula. You should also look into members-only sites like Gilt MAN and JackThreads, which offer discounted designer gear. As well, if you have the patience and the eye for it and are a self-identified hipster (to yourself only, of course), then you might want to check out Etsy for some rad vintage clothing.